General Information
When and where is Council 2025?
Council 2025 will be held in Columbus, Ohio from May 26–30, 2025.
When is Alliance Council 2023?
Council will start with the opening service on Monday evening, May 29, 2023, at 7 p.m. It will conclude after the Missions Rally on Friday evening, June 2, 2023, at 9 p.m. There will be some pre-Council events Sunday and Monday (see below for details).
Who can attend Council?
Anyone who attends an Alliance church is welcome to attend Council 2023. People attending more than one day must register.
How do I register?
Registration is now closed, but you can register onsite in Spokane beginning Sunday, May 28 from 2:00 – 6:00 pm and Monday through Friday 8:30 am – 6:30 pm. The cost is $219.
What is the Missions Rally?
Since its earliest days, Alliance gatherings have included a missions rally. This year the rally will include a commissioning service for our new international worker appointees. Throughout our Alliance history, our call to “go” has never wavered, and we want to celebrate what God is doing in and through Alliance missions. Council will conclude with the Missions Rally on Friday, June 2.
What are the pre-Council events?
EquippingU Council─How your Church Can Become a Conversion Community and Grow Younger─featuring Rick Richardson, will take place on Monday, May 29, from 1–4 p.m.
This workshop will provide vision and practical handles on how to develop an evangelistic culture for your church, mobilize all your people for witness, and grow primarily through adding new believers. One additional benefit: new research being done THIS year will be unveiled at this conference on how your church can reach, disciple, and develop diverse young adults on the way toward becoming a conversion community.
Alliance Youth Pre-Council, hosted by Alliance Youth, is a one-day event on May 29 for youth workers, who attend Council. Today’s student ministries are bombarded with the never-ending cascade of cultural shifts, social changes, and conversations about sexuality and gender. It can be confusing for the student, paralyzing for families, and overwhelming for youth workers in the church.
We want our next-generation Alliance youth workers to have tools to engage in the conversations that we are seeing in our ministries today. At this event you will be equipped to thrive in ministry amid today’s changing culture.
When does Council registration open and close?
Council is open to all Alliance members and adherents. Registered delegates can pick up their event tickets at the Council registration booth. Register early—there is no guarantee of available space. Pre-registration will run from October 3, 2022–April 14, 2023 and will cost $189. If you wait and register on-site, the cost will be $219.
Will Council services be streamed?
The morning services, business sessions, and evening worship services will be streamed for anyone who is unable to join us for Council in Spokane. The services can be found at cmalliance.org/council or on our C&MA Facebook page.
I have lost my Council confirmation. What do I do?
Fill out the Contact Us form below.
Can I still sign up for Council functions after I complete my registration?
Yes. Please log back into your registration to make edits—subject to availability. After April 15, please contact the function sponsor.
Will there be Children’s Ministry? How do I sign up?
Yes. Under the direction of licensed children’s workers, a special program will be provided during the morning and evening Council sessions for children aged 5–10. The cost for the entire week is $30 per child. Fees will cover materials, snacks, and one T-shirt per child. Enroll children through the delegate registration site. Please note space is limited.
Will there be an exhibit hall?
Yes. We are happy to tell you that this year, many of your favorite Alliance partners are returning to Council. In addition to numerous national and district Alliance ministries, you can expect to see Orchard Alliance, Alliance colleges, retirement centers, and lots of ministry resources for you and your church family.
Will there be a Council app?
Yes─it is available for Android and Apple devices. Download the app here.
Will there be a hashtag?
Yes. We are excited about the community sharing our experiences with those on-site and at home. Please use the Council hashtag #alliancecouncil2023
Will there be ASL translation services offered again this year?
Yes. Sonshine Interpreting will be providing ASL interpreting for the general session in the main hall of the Spokane Convention Center.
Volunteer Opportunities
One of the ways we reduce the cost of Council is through volunteers. These volunteer opportunities (2 hour minimum) include tellers, registration, badge checkers, and other needs. Please consider helping the Alliance family by volunteering. For additional information please answer “yes” below. We will contact you closer to Council to review needs and your availability. Thank you for your consideration.
Travel/Lodging
What is the best airport to fly into?
Spokane International Airport (GEG). It is a smaller airport, easy to navigate, and a 12-minute drive to the Spokane Convention Center and the hotels. From the airport to the hotels, Uber and Lyfts cost around $25 and taxis around $35 (these prices may be higher during peak times and off-hours).
How can I reserve a hotel room?
After registering for Council, you will receive a confirmation email with a private link to reserve a hotel room at the significantly discounted Council rate—between $120 and $130 plus tax/fees.
Where are the hotels located?
There are six conveniently located hotels contracted for Council. Two are connected by sky bridges to the Convention Center; the other four are 2–10-minute walks away.
Do I need a rental car?
Not for the event! The event venue, hotels, and restaurants are easily walkable.
What are the food options?
There are dozens of food options within a 3–4 block radius of the convention center. Additionally, there are concessions in the Convention Center as well as hotel restaurants. Visit https://downtownspokane.org/ for more information.
Business
Who is allowed to vote at Council?
There are two registration types for Council: accredited and corresponding. A corresponding delegate has access to all the general sessions and exhibit halls as well as the opportunity to sign up for special functions like pre-Council events, receptions, private events, and more. An accredited delegate has all the rights as a corresponding delegate as well as voting rights during business sessions.
All official workers are eligible to register as accredited delegates. Lay members who serve on any Council committee are also eligible to register as accredited delegates. Additionally, churches are allowed to appoint a designated number of lay delegates to represent and vote on behalf of their church. (see C&MA Manual, 6.2, A (3) on page A2-7) Speak to your church pastor or district superintendent for more information on this process.
Will accredited delegates be allowed to vote remotely for Council 2023?
No. The bylaws of The Christian and Missionary Alliance are written with the understanding that voting necessitates participation in the process that occurs onsite.
Accredited delegates were allowed to vote remotely during Council 2021. Why won’t there be remote voting for Council 2023?
Good question! In spring 2021, due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, our venue projected that government regulations would not allow more than 500 people to attend a live event in their jurisdiction. This triggered C&MA bylaw Article XII, Section 12.1, which in the case of “any emergency arising out of an international or national crisis” grants an emergency committee consisting of the president, vice president, and secretary the power “to take any action made necessary by an emergency.” The committee then adopted (and the Board of Directors later affirmed) temporary bylaw changes to provide a process for remote participation effective for Council 2021 only. There are no national or international crises prohibiting Council attendance in 2023.
How does the C&MA conduct business?
A business meeting with thousands of attendees may sound chaotic, but there are rules and procedures to make a business meeting of that size effective, efficient, and accurate. Registered delegates who identify as first-time attendees will receive an additional primer to ensure an enjoyable, successful Council.
Will Council 2023 vote on the Statement of Faith discussions that were not completed at Council 2021?
Yes─in fact, we have added additional time for business sessions to allow adequate time for discussion and voting on this and other important denominational matters.
Have a question?
For more information or questions about Council, fill out the Contact Us form below.
By registering for General Council, I acknowledge my understanding that some meetings will be livestreamed and that my image or voice may be part of the broadcast. I also understand that my image or voice may be recorded, edited, and distributed for distribution after General Council. The material will be used only to further the ministry purpose of the C&MA. I give my permission for use of my image or voice as described in this paragraph and release any claim for compensation related to this use.